Despite fear of terrorism, Californians wary of government action

An increased number of Californians expect terrorist attacks close to home and don’t believe law enforcement can prevent them. But even more fear government actions to avert terrorism, according to a new Field Poll.

The poll, conducted after last month’s San Bernardino massacre, found that 33 percent of those surveyed considered terrorist attacks in California in the near future very likely.

That compared with just 21 percent who thought terror attacks likely the last time the questions were asked in July 2002, 17 percent in January 2002 and 20 percent in September 2001, right after the Sept. 11 attacks.

“It actually makes lot of sense now to compare public opinion after the San Bernardino attacks to public opinion after the New York City attacks,” said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll.

The poll results show an increased concern among Californians now that an attack has taken place inside the state instead of thousands of miles away, DiCamillo said.

“When a terrorist attack hits closer to home,” he said, “more voters are inclined to fear attacks closer to home.”

Pollsters conducted telephone interviews with 1,003 randomly selected registered voters in California. The poll has a margin or error or plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

Few Californians — 21 percent — have faith in the ability of the FBI, CIA and other law enforcement agencies to break up terrorist plots, the poll found.

But in addition to the rising fear of terrorism, Californians are even more afraid that the government will go too far in its efforts to fend off attacks by taking away personal liberties. The poll found that 55 percent were worried that the government would overreach, a slight increase over the 53 percent that expressed concerns in 2002 and a big leap from the 42 percent right after 9/11.

The poll also found that Californians opposed sending ground troops into Iraq or Syria to combat Islamic State militants. Overall, 51 percent of voters opposed a ground war while 37 percent were in favor. The results were highly partisan, with 63 percent of Democrats opposed to just 28 percent of Republicans. A majority of Republicans — 54 percent — supported sending in troops, and just 34 percent were opposed.